Women Empowerement through sustainable farming
Afri Foods is a fresh produce export company that follows sustainable farming practices, pays real living wages, and aims to empower women farmers in Rwanda.
Over 70% of Rwandans rely on small-scale farming for sustenance and cash incomes. It is vital that agribusinesses use sustainable farming practices and pay living wages, to empower people, especially women farmers.
Agri Foods works with more than 375 individual farmers and five cooperatives across the northern, eastern, and southern provinces. We work in the districts of Rwamagana, Kayonza, Gatsibo, Nyagatare, Bugesera, Nyanza, Huye, Gicumbi, and Musanze.
We grow our premium fruit and vegetables in the mountains of Rwanda. The volcanic soils, plentiful rain, equatorial sunshine, and a high-altitude climate provide a rich environment for agriculture.
We source our fresh produce by buying directly from small-scale and commercial farmers. Our sustainable farming methodology includes training in best agricultural practices and food handling. We want to ensure that the fruit and vegetables we supply are of the highest quality and can be traced to individual farms.
Afri Foods’s impact goal is to increase our workforce to 2,000 farmers in the next two years. This is a sustainable goal that we can achieve through capacity building, youth programs, and National Agriculture Development Board (NAEB) activities.
Empowering women farmers and youth
70% of our farmers are women and youth. Farming is their primary source of income and work. They live in small villages with no education beyond school and few economic prospects.
At AfriFoods, we aim to empower women farmers by paying them a real living wage for their premium produce. This gives them independence, stature, and dignity. Our farmers take pride in their work and are encouraged to continue to grow high-quality fresh produce.
It’s a win-win for Afri Foods and Rwandan women farmers. Education and opportunities are the two most impactful ways to improve the lives of Rwandan women.
In 2021, we were pleased to start offering internships to women and youth in agricultural studies from University of Rwanda’s College of Agriculture, Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine & African Leadership University. 80% of which were for women.
Supporting sustainable growth in Rwanda
Agri Food’s overall aim is to increase our farmers’ household incomes by 40% by 2025.
This is in line with Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation – a seven-year plan to lay the foundations for sustainable growth to increase standards of living for the communities we work with.
AfriFoods is proud to be part of this transformation by developing skills and employment opportunities in the private sector.
Our business currently exports over 270MT of produce annually. We plan to increase production by 100% over the next three years.
We have secure and reliable shipping and business partners and are looking to expand our customer base.
Afri Foods is at a unique moment in Rwanda’s economic and social development. We would love to work with you to achieve a new, brighter future for every Rwandan.